Toy spring rocket launcher



L. A. sKlNNl-:R

TOY SPRING ROCKET LAUNCHER Aug. 14, 1951( Filed March l5, 1947 INVENTO'R Leslie L5/mzlwf' TORNEYS .v E @Tm This invention relates to Patented Aug. 14,A 17951 UNITED STATES' IAIIEBIT @OFFICE 2,563.9@ I Y TOY sPRNGjRooKET LAUNCHER Leslie A. Skinner, `Fort Leavenworth, Kans. f Application traitera 1947, serial No. 734,889

new and usefuli'mprovements in toy guns and particularlyfof a toy simulating accurately the appearance and 'action of the bazooka Q Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by prac- 'tice with the invention, the same being realized' and attained by means of the instrumentalities andV combinations pointed out in the appended claims, v

' The'invention consists inthe novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinationaand im'- proveinents herein shown and described.

VThe accompany drawings, referred to `herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and ltogether'with the description, serve to explain Vthe principles of the invention.

Of the drawings VFig. 1 is a side elevation view embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view in longitudinal section of the bazooka shown in Fig. l, showing the missile in place on the missile launcher assembly in the breech of the toy bazooka Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section onlines 3--3 ofFig.2;and e A Fig. 4 is a detail View of the missile launcher assembly in side elevation.

It is an object of this invention to provide` a -spring-actuated toy gun, the parts of which may be cheaply manufactured and readily assembled and which do not get out of order easily.

It is. a further .object to provide a-springactuated toy gun and missile which closely reof a toy"bazooka `'semble in appearance and action thertfamous bazooka portable rocket launcher which was successfully used in World War II.

Another object is to provide a spring-actuated toy bazooka which will re a harmless missile with reasonable accuracy for a considerable distance.

In general the toy bazooka comprises the combination of a tubular barrel, open at each end and adapted at its breech end to receive and lock in place a removable missile launching means, carrying a spring-urged missile locked in firing position thereon, said missile having a diameter less than that of said barrel, enabling it to travel freely through said barrel and out its muzzle when forward impelling force is applied to said missile.

It will be understood that the foregoing gen- 5` Claims. (Cl. 124-525) I 2 'eral description andthe following detailed description as well are exemplary .and explanatory of 'the' invention but are not restrictive thereof. Referring to the drawing in detail and particularly to Fig. l, a tubular barrel I0 is provided with a stock 6 which is mounted on a member 8 fastened rigidly to the barrel by bands'IZ and I3. The breech end of barrel I0 is notched by opposing bayonetl slots I4 into which bayonet studs I6 of the missile launcher shown in Fig. 4 t and lock. Such barrel is smooth-bored and normally open at both ends.

The missile launcher is comprised'of base I8, carrying an annular collar 20 fixed thereto. *A

'dowel 22 is xedly mounted in base I8 and has an extended annular spring 24, flxed at one end in base I8, loosely disposed thereon. A'sear 26 is pivotably mounted at 28 in base I8 and its notched end is normally urged toward the dowel by an expansion spring 29, as shown in Fig. 2. A spring retaining notch 30 is formed at one end of 'sear 26 which carries scar lever foot or trigger 32 as a downwardly extending projection. Longituditubular shaft 46 with guide tail fins 48 fixed 4thereon and a cushioned or sponge-rubber 'head 50 `mounted on shaft 46, fits slidably over dowel rod v22. ,jectile for engaging spring-retaining notch30 on A rear end flange 52 isy fixed on the 4pro- ,the sear when in firing position.

In operation the tubular projectile shaft is slid over dowel rod 22 as shown in Fig. 2 and forced against extended helical spring 24 to compress same until ilange 52 is engaged by notch 30 causing the projectile to be locked in firing position on the launcher. Said missile launcher assembly with the missile locked in firing position is then inserted into tubular barrel I0, bayonet studs I6 sliding into bayonet slots I4 and locking when collar 20 is twisted which force also acts to line up axially trigger rod 34 and notch 30. When rearward pressure is applied to trigger loop 38, the rod 34 slides rearwardly and force is transmitted against trigger 32 causing pivoted sear 26 to rock downwardly through a slot II provided in the bottom of barrel I0. Notch 3U is thus disengaged from flange 52 and the projectile is driven for- Ward along dowel 22 through barrel l0 by the impulsion of spring 24 against ange 52. When the projectile leaves the barrel it is guided in its considerable iiight by fins 48, while the soft construction of head 50 renders the projectile nondangerous upon impact. Other interchangeable projectiles can be used with the launcher, which can be Withdrawn and reloaded as will be obvious.

It will be readily understood that the inexpensive, simple toy bazooka of the type described, closely resembling the real bazooka in appearance and able to fire for a considerable distance a harmless projectile, which resembles the rocket missile of the real bazookaf will be of wide interest especially to children and will'be an important addition to theleld of toy guns and the like.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific mechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefrom, vwithin the scope of the accompanying claims, without departing from the principles of the in'- vention andY without sacrificing its chief advantages. y What I claim is:

1. A toy gun, comprising in combination, a tubular barrel open at both ends, a projectile, a projectile launcher, a spring, a sear carried by the launcher, said projectile having one surfacev engaging said spring and compressing it and another .surface engaging the sear so that the projectile is releasably connected thereto, the projectile and launcher being inserted together in the barrel near the breech end thereof, a first hand rest extending from said tubular barrel and having a.

manually operated trigger member, a second hand Vrest extending from said tubular barrel and 1ovcated toward the breech end of said tubular barrel with respect to said rst hand rest, and a rod extending through said hand rests to the breech .end of said barrel, said rod being operable by said trigger member of said first hand rest whereby on movement of said rod toward the breech end vof said barrel, said rod engages the sear and -moves the same so that it is disengaged from the engaging surface of the projectile whereby the projectile is released. Y

2. A toy gun, `comprising in combination, a tubular barrel open at both ends, a flanged projectile, a projectile launcher comprising a dowel rod, a helical spring mounted thereon, asear pivotallymounted at one end and having a projectile retaining member at its other end, said 'projectilel being slidably mounted on said dowel Apin and having a surface engaging the spring to compress said spring, the flange member of the projectile engaging the projectile retaining member of said projectile launcher so that the pro- .jectile is releasably connected thereto, said projectile and launcher being simultaneously inserted in the barrel in the spring-compressed condition, said barrel having a slot at the breech end through which the sear extends, a rst hand rest extending from said tubular barrel and having a manually operated trigger member, a second hand rest extending from said tubular barrel and located towards the breech end of said tubular barrel with respect to said rst hand rest, a rod extending through said hand rests to the breech end of said barrel and to a position close to said sear, and spring means for normally holding said rod from contacting said sear, said rod being operable by said trigger member of said first hand rest whereby on movement of said rod toward the breech end of the barrel it engages said sear member which in turn moves the projectile retaining member so that it is disengaged from the flange member of the projectile whereby the projectile is released.

3. A toy including in combination a tubular barrel open at both ends, a projectile launcher comprising a base with a helical spring and a vthe sear to release the projectile from the launcher.

4. A toy according to claim 3 wherein the spring ts over the guide rod and the spring abuts the rear end of the projectile.

5. A toy according to claim 3 wherein' the base of the launcher has retaining means for holding the launcher in the breech of the barrel after the projectile is launched.

LESLIE A. SKINNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the flle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Fraser Dec. 4, 1940 

